Chapter 389: Turned Away by the Guards
The man sent a text message, but Cecilia Vaughn inexplicably felt as if a steady magnetic voice was echoing by her ear.
The girl’s heart sweetened, and she originally wanted to call, but then thought that Adrian Law might have already boarded the plane, which would be inconvenient, so she opted to send a text instead.
——Alright, alright, I’m not a child anymore, how could I forget to eat? I’ll take good care of myself.
After thinking for a moment, Cecilia sent another text.
——Mr. Law, do your best, I wish you success in securing the collaboration!
...
After putting down her phone, Cecilia still wore a happy smile.
The way Adrian treated her... was always so tender and considerate. In this world, besides her mother, Wendy Sutton, only Adrian would care so much about whether she ate on time every day or if she would catch a cold by not dressing warmly enough.
Love does not need to be earth-shattering to be profound. The trajectory of love often reveals itself in some trivial details, like a bowl of porridge or a piece of clothing that can keep one warm.
To be considerate for a moment is not difficult, but to pamper someone forever without growing tired, that is the true essence of love.
Sometimes Cecilia found it unbelievable that she casually found a man for a fake marriage, and ended up finding the true love of her life.
This kind of luck is hard to encounter even in dreams.
...
However, Adrian was going on a business trip for two days...
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it seemed that from the moment the text was sent, Cecilia began to understand what longing tasted like.
Cecilia let out a soft sigh and flipped through the calendar, only to realize that two days later, it would be Friday.
It was also the day she had to attend the Light of Love Charity Gala.
Maybe at that time, Adrian would still be on the plane returning to Veridia.
...
The girl shook her head with some disappointment; she was accustomed to a simple style daily, and suddenly did not know what to wear to such a gala.
It’s the dead of winter, would those celebrities, models, and socialites really show up in off-shoulder evening gowns?
That would be too cold.
Perhaps it’s fine indoors with heating, but outdoors it’s a snowy wonderland!
Cecilia couldn’t decide, so she made a call to Mona Summers.
"Mona, do you know where they sell dresses suitable for winter? Not the kind that reveals too much, the warmer the better."
Mona was shocked to receive the call.
"Did I hear wrong? Cecilia, you who normally can’t even bother to put on makeup want to buy a dress for a gala?"
"It’s not for that wedding of your White Lotus sister at the end of the month, is it? But she’s having a cruise wedding on a tropical island, right? It’s not winter there, it’s hot as hell..."
Hearing her friend’s teasing, Cecilia chuckled.
"You misunderstood, I’m going to the Light of Love Charity Gala, you’ve heard of it, right? I’ve never been to such an event before, and I’m afraid of committing a faux pas."
"Oh my gosh! Cecilia, you’re going places! For such a high-level gala to invite you? Front-page news, for sure?!"
"Cecilia, you might as well switch to being a celebrity; your looks and popularity are both strong... I’ll be your assistant, and we’ll debut beautifully together..."
"You’re just daydreaming. Madam Queen, you’re already my manga assistant. Besides, I’m studying, drawing, learning piano, and managing my grandfather’s business as well. Do you think I’m a perpetual motion machine?"
Cecilia smiled wryly.
"Alright, alright, just kidding."
Mona remembered the business at hand.
"I know there’s a dress shop on Cressida Road that’s not bad, a niche Vessarian brand, shall we check it out?"
"Okay."
...
At the store.
Seeing the beautiful fairy dresses in the window, Cecilia felt goosebumps instead of admiration.
"Mona, it’s below freezing, are you sure you want me to expose my arms and legs..."
Cecilia shivered as she tugged at her turtleneck sweater and silently complained.
"And... it’s too cold when the wind blows in Stellerton, and it’s so humid, I feel I can’t do without thermal underwear..."
Wearing evening gowns with thermals beneath?
You’re joking, right?
Mona: "Hey, have a little ambition, okay?"
She playfully whacked Cecilia on the forehead.
"Have you seen the female celebrities announced above? They’re used to the red carpet, each more daring than the last, unlike you, fussing about showing your arms in winter."
"..."
Cecilia retorted, unwilling to back down.
"But they rely on their looks, and I don’t."
"..." Mona was speechless: "Fine, no discussing it, so you have a family business to inherit, big deal? But the socialites invited aren’t any less glamorous than those celebrities either..."
As she spoke, Mona handed over screenshots from previous charity gala events.
"Look, this is Shirley Sinclair, the only daughter of Vogue Technologies’ CEO, and this is Vivian Warner, the female boss of Transcend Mobile, and see... which one of them isn’t glamorous on the red carpet? Some even linger outside for almost half an hour just to be photographed a bit longer!"
Cecilia mumbled to herself.
"To each their own... When it comes to style versus warmth, I’ll choose the latter."
Who wants to ditch thermal underwear in the winter unless it’s a blood feud?
...
Mona was poisoned by her friend’s stubbornness.
She facepalmed, not knowing what to say, only to huff dramatically in the end.
"Then why not wear a puffer coat and long skirt, bundled up like a dumpling to go, and see if anyone laughs at you."
Cecilia’s eyes lit up.
"A puffer coat long dress? Great idea!"
Mona completely despaired: "Try it if you dare! The celebrities who tried it before got mocked mercilessly; if you make a fool of yourself, don’t say you know me..."
Cecilia was embarrassed as she carefully looked through the attendees’ outfits, still thinking men were better off.
Male celebrities also wore suits with turtleneck sweaters, looking stylish, and no one noticed layering thermals beneath wide-legged pants.
"Should I wear menswear?"
"Don’t you dare! Don’t think I don’t know you’re just trying to layer more clothes."
The two debated for a long time and eventually had to compromise with a full-length black velvet dress.
With long sleeves and a ruffled collar, the dress reached the ground, hiding any back or legs, but it was fitted, curvaceous, and full of design. The fringed waist belt added a touch of playfulness amidst the formal elegance.
This dress was actually suitable only for around 10 degrees, and one would still need a coat to stay warm, but compared to those breezy evening dresses, it at least showed respect for winter temperatures.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was Friday.
Cecilia got out of the car, momentarily stunned by the luxurious Gothic castle, its spires piercing the sky, as if the entire city lay at its feet.
In silence, Cecilia gracefully lifted her dress, handing over her gold-embossed invitation to gain entry.
The doorman in a tailcoat glanced at it, just about to let her pass, when his expression suddenly changed.
"Miss, please wait!"